Christopher Curry/ The Towerlight

When freshmen Dionna Goldstein and Jessica Taroncher became roommates at the start of the semester, they began running together. The bond the two shared transformed into an idea to form their own student club, Paws Running for a Cause.

The club will focus around racing in local and University-sponsored runs, but also raising money for charity.

“We wanted to get involved at Towson but not in a sorority,” Goldstein said.

The name Paws Running for a Cause derives from an organization called Paws Fur a Cause, a 5K run that raises money for dogs in shelters, the girls explained.

Although Paws Running for a Cause is not yet an official campus organization, Taroncher and Goldstein said they already have runs planned for the club.

“Short-term goals are to get more people and make the club official,” Taroncher said. “Long-term goals are fundraising to keep the club going. We heard some groups die after four years, so we want to fundraise to keep going.”

Fundraising would include on-campus events and donations to pay for entry fees and then additional donations at runs.

“We have eight people interested already,” Goldstein said. “It’s a good cause, more people means more fundraising. We can raise so much money with so many people as a university club.”

The organization is planning to participate in local runs, as well as runs on campus like the The Color Run, the Undie Run and the Electric Run are already in discussion, they said.

In the future, Goldstein and Taroncher said they hope to have a group filled with people who enjoy running and donating to charities as much as they do.

The duo said you don’t have to be a runner to join.

“Anyone can join who are looking to get involved and participate,” Taroncher said.